I Flew to Kuching in Less Than 12 Hours On Sudden Decision (Kuching Day 1)

P/S: This post backdates to January 2010

I just finished study and return to my hometown at Kota Kinabalu. I was here for less than a week, and I flew to Kuching again.

“Uiiii nga lin zai! I am damn bored at KK lehh. I don’t have computer to use oh! I fly to Kuching tomorrow ok? I’ll be alone. Are you coming?” I called Chris on the phone. Chris was at his hometown Sarikei.

“Whoa, why so rush?”

“I am fucking bored. You SHUKKKK arrrr???? Tell me you shuk and you cannot come.”

“Lai laaaa… like I scare you. But I confirm my mum going to diao me gao-gao. Haha. Tomorrow I’ll meet you there. The bus ride will take me 5 hours. I’ll call you when I arrive.”

Second day (more like few hours later), I am at Kuching already. Talk about efficient ha! This is what bored people do. Mind you, I just return from Australia and I thought I have lots of cash after currency conversion.

My mum couldn’t find me the second day – I flew to Kuching at 5am, she hasn’t wake up yet.

I had my first original Kolo mee at Kuching. If you are a frequent reader at Kennysia.com, this photo will be familiar to you.

RM2.50 for a bowl of noodle. This is heaven lah. There’s no such thing here at KK. Everything starts with digit “5″.

“Berapa satu milo ping?”

“RM5.00 boss”

We stay at backpackers for RM32 per night. The backpackers is situated at Jalan Pandungan and it is called Beds Hostel, the building is painted purple colour. Really stands out. I love this backpackers – the staffs are friendly, place is clean and affordable.

You have to share toilet and watch TV at common room though, and there’s free Wi-fi and Playstation as well.

The only thing I don’t like is our room has lousy ventilation. Chris farts and we die together.

This is the exact location of the hostel. And this is our headquarter

Kuching’s Santubong river. The river colour looks like Horlicks. The river has ferry service, use row some more. Old school man.. I like! This river reminds me of Brisbane’s CityCat.

Hehehe. There’s even coffee shop named after me

Chris has been to Kuching a few times, so he knows where to find good food.

Char siew bao. RM1.30. So much fillings.. worth every cents.

In KK, you pay RM1.50 for a biji of dough with a thin spread of meat that is equivalent to kaya spread.

Why ar, I keep saying bad things about KK food.. hahaha.

You come Kuching, of course must take photo with Kucing Most popular landmark in Kuching City.

Few blocks away from Jalan Pandungan, we’re at Jalan India – where you can find all sorts of exotic spices and cheap cloths. The cloths are on floor everywhere. Chris told me this is area insecure.

Everyone look at us like we’re from Mars… or maybe I am perasan lah.

The weather is damn hot and I probably lost 2kg of liquid from walking whole day.

Refuel with a bowl of local ABC. Call 五宝冰 if not mistaken.

On the side, we ordered a plate of Tomato Chau Kuey Tiao, ~~Siao bi~~ Sio Bee (equivalent to siu mai 烧卖) and a glass of soy bean juice (豆浆)

‘Bing, let’s go to 101 Food Court at Satong, very famous wan”

“But we just ate…..”

“SHUKKKKK arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……???”

That’s basically how whole trip conversation goes ^^;

Satong 101 Food Court – WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA DAMN BESAR MAN (and crowded too)

Like whole population of Kuching people gathers here every night and eat eat eat. Seriously, why Kuching food stalls are packed everywhere? No one bother to cook at home?

Chris ordered sardines.

“Macibai why you order sardines? I eat those canned sardines until I sian liao wei… and it taste like shit”

“You try first leh… don’t bising”

Chris was right. The sardine bakar was surprisingly good. Tastes totally different from what I had in mind. The meat was succulent and the fish oil is WHOSHHHHHHHHHH damn nice! The explosive creamy taste goes BOOM BOOM BOOM in your mouth.

If you have the chance to try one, must try! We ordered another plate and it was the last one at the stall.

Chris also recommends tom yam prawns. Not bad also la, but the sardines were the highlight.

We were so… fucking… full…so we decided to call it a night.

Before we go to sleep, we warned each other not to fart because the room’s ventilation is lousy. And then we talk about girls la… life la.. money la… all sorts of stuffs.

Turned off the light and we noticed the lamp…

Many swimming champions oh.

Here are some interesting points I noted throughout the journey

Taxi is yellow red
Some shops are ridiculously old
Two kinds of Kolo Mee: white and red
Beverage is average RM2
India street is interesting, old buildings with many exposed wires. Recently got fire
Don’t see illegal immigrants around!
Chinese is majority. Everyone speaks Chinese here
Many shopping complex but all very small. Mostly 2-3 levels
Shop lots sell simple things only, and all repetitive
Food usually sell in one whole street.. with many same competitors
More motorcycles and many motor mechanics
Tourists stuffs available at Waterfront shops
Kuih lapis is interesting. Colorful but expensive.
China town is small and interesting, many old carpenters, gold shops.. only see CHINESE!!
Many specialize shops, sell chinese goods, dry goods, spices, rice, onion, or mixed groceries.
Went past Jalan India Street to look for Chinese food court but only found a different food court. Chris called his friends multiple time to get directions. We finally found it after an hour of walk. I guess roughly 5-6km total walk and I had tomato noodle and siao bii and soy bean juice. When we walked out only realised the first food court was just 3 steps beside. I wanted to kill Chris.
We took taxi to 101 Food court. Huge food court with lots of selection..
Taxi uncles here are very friendly and easy to communicate, always gives useful advice and point us to correction direction with exact price.
Ordered Ular Campur Ping out of curiosity. Only realised it’s 蛇舌草精 with condense milk. Tiu.
Called 087-343343 to book taxi.